SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The Bureau of Reclamation has released for a 60-day public review a proposed contract with the Casitas Municipal Water District for the Repayment of funds for the Safety of Dams Act Modification at Casitas Dam and Reservoir.

As a result of new seismic data and changes in state-of-the-art criteria, Casitas Dam and related facilities were modified to preserve the structural integrity. The Safety of Dams modification work was largely complete in February 2002. The repayment contract was negotiated according to the Safety of Dams Act of 1978, as amended.

Casitas Dam is a dam on Coyote Creek that forms Lake Casitas near Ojai, California. The dam is located two miles above the junction of Coyote Creek and the Ventura River. The 334 foot tall earth fill dam was built by the Bureau of Reclamation. It is a key part of the Ventura River Project. Construction was completed in 1959. Lake Casitas has a capacity of 254,000 acre-feet and stores water for irrigation and municipal use for those within the Casitas Municipal Water District.

Written comments must be received by close of business Saturday, June 7, and should be sent Karen Hall, Bureau of Reclamation, 2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento CA, 95825. You may also email comments to khall@usbr.gov. The repayment contract is available at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/warren_act/. For more information, please contact Hall at 916-978-5254 (TTY 1-800-877-8339).

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